Updated June 27, 2026. All pricing verified from public sources.
Buildium and AppFolio are the two heavyweights in property management software. If you manage properties professionally, you will probably end up choosing between these two. The decision comes down to portfolio size, feature needs, and budget.
| Buildium | AppFolio | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $55/month | $1.40/unit (min $280/mo) |
| Free trial | 15 days | Demo only |
| Best for | 20-500 units | 200+ units |
| AI features | No | AI leasing assistant |
| Accounting | Full GL, trust accounting | Full GL, trust accounting |
| Owner portal | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant screening | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
Accessibility and price. Buildium starts at $55/month flat with no per-unit minimums. For a property manager with 20 to 200 units, Buildium is significantly cheaper than AppFolio and does not lock you into a high minimum spend.
Buildium's interface is also more intuitive for smaller teams. The learning curve is shorter, the setup is faster, and you can be operational within a week. AppFolio takes longer to configure and the interface can feel overwhelming if you are not managing hundreds of units.
The 15-day free trial is a real plus. You can actually test Buildium before committing. AppFolio requires a demo and a sales conversation first.
Automation and AI. AppFolio's AI leasing assistant is a genuine differentiator. It handles tenant inquiries, schedules showings, and answers common questions without human involvement. For a portfolio with high tenant turnover, this feature alone can replace a part-time leasing agent.
AppFolio also has stronger marketing tools. Built-in website builder, syndication to listing sites, and automated follow-up campaigns. If you are actively filling vacancies, AppFolio gets units rented faster.
The reporting is more sophisticated too. Custom dashboards, deeper analytics, and better visibility into portfolio performance. Buildium's reporting is adequate but not exceptional.
Both handle the core property management workflow well: tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance tracking, and full accounting with trust accounting support. Both have owner portals and tenant portals. Both have mobile apps for landlords and tenants.
If your needs are basic, either platform will work. The differences only become apparent at scale.
Pick Buildium if: you manage fewer than 200 units and want a straightforward platform at a fair price. It is the better value for most professional property managers.
Pick AppFolio if: you manage 200 or more units, deal with high tenant turnover, and want AI automation and advanced marketing tools. The minimum spend is worth it at that scale.
For the average professional property manager: Buildium. AppFolio is excellent but priced for scale that most managers do not have.
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See our 2026 pricing research for real cost data.